"The Fence" is track four on the Hungry Lights studio album "The Awry Ascent." Remember that this is a summary, not the entire story! It is like 10% of what is actually going on—just the skeleton. It is a rough translation of what is literally going on in the lyrics. There is also a figurative story that is taking place at the same time which goes much deeper and does not involve the fictional character Prill, but that is up to you to find :) It is much easier to discover the hidden meaning when you grasp a decent understanding of the literal meaning first. These are your puzzle pieces, and I highly suggest you study them before pursuing the next albums in the sequence, otherwise emotion and information will be lost, therefore connections will be missed!

In "The Fence," Prill has returned home, and everything has been ideal. Several months have gone by since "Prite & Promise," and suddenly Prite reveals to Prill that she is pregnant with his child. Prill is shocked by the news to the point of denial. He does not really want to believe what she is telling him because the truth of it would complicate the new life he has been striving for. He feels very indifferent about the entire situation.

More time goes by, and Prite is telling Prill all the wonderful things she plans to do once their baby is born, but Prill is not really listening. He is stuck in his own head—trapped in indifference. Eventually, he decides that if they are going to have this child, he needs a better job. He does not believe he can provide for the three of them doing what he does now (especially since he has given up being a sea hunter). He starts to think of the future—think of raising a child in poverty, and it bothers him. If he is going to have this baby, he wants it to have the best life possible, and this is when he starts to get ideas... This very moment here is the catalyst of Prill's tale, "From Windfall To Hell." This is when he decides he is going to catch Fothcrah. This is the point of no return.

After realizing what he needs to do, Prill has a great debate with himself over whether or not it is even possible. And if it is, is it worth it? He gave up that life! He is not a sea hunter anymore. And even if he chose to return to it, nobody has ever caught Fothcrah before. Nobody knows if she really even exists! She is folklore—a myth! There are only stories, and the people who believe those stories are deemed fools. Prill does not want to be, nor does he think himself a fool, but the desire consumes him. Prill is the best. If anybody can catch her, it is him—at least this is what he tells himself.

Soon enough, Prill begins to doubt himself. He knows that he is figuratively digging his own grave, that he is crazy, that he is a fool, but he sees no other option. He believes that he is running out of time, and so he makes his decision to return to the sea—to his old life, and make one last catch.